Spring Break
'Silver Surfer' Is A Less Than 'Fantastic' Sequel
DVD Review
Madeline Ward
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Focus
"Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" is the finest trashy entertainment that money can buy. Its predecessor, the original "Fantastic 4," a fun action flick with humor and heart, was "Citizen Kane" compared to this. Though this is not to say you won't have fun for now. The problem with this film, and many other films before it, is that the fun won't last. The spectacular special effects will soon become dated.
The basic plot takes place two years after the events of the first movie. Our heroes are at a media-frenzied wedding, which is rudely interrupted by intense weather, which turns out to be the arrival of the first alien from outer space, who steals both the human torch and the villain Dr. Doom's powers. The rest of the film is a slow-paced race against time to capture the alien surfer and restore the stolen powers.
What isn't done in this movie is what is disappointing. There is a lot of squandered potential in this movie. It doesn't focus on the unconventional family relationships or the effects of what having super heroes in the real world might be. No, this film is about four people trying to separate an alien from his surfboard. Not all of us have read the comic book. Some of us did do research to see if it was true to the character. To be blunt, it is not true to the character. It's not hard to be true to a character that is a giant, silver, conveniently human-shaped alien that rides a giant surfboard for the only reason being that kids in 1964 thought it would be cool.
The movie should probably be known as the sequel where the cute young hotshot gets serious and saves the day … with a little help. The actor (Chris Evans) does actually give a good performance, considering much of the plot hinges on him. He plays this like a Nickelodeon cartoon character that learns a valuable lesson all while having a few laughs along the way.
His names is Johnny Storm; he's what all the little kids watching will identify with. They will also want to watch the DVD extra about the Fantasticar. The best part of this is when he trades powers with some of the other members. We get to see him as a giant rock man, an invisible person, a stretchy dude, as well as on fire.
In the movie, the Silver Surfer actually looks like a modern and formidable enemy. In the comics he is a merely very large man in a purple body suit and a really stupid hat.
Jessica Alba gives a limp performance as a blonde, blue-eyed serious scientist that doesn't do anything very science-y. However, her counterparts try a bit harder to give a good show. Ioan Guffard is Reed Richards, a man that can stretch and apparently construct a laser and flying car out of scraps. Michael Chiklis does wonders with the limited material he is given - performance only enhanced by the "Power Cosmic" DVD edition.
All and all this is an experience meant for the younger kids in the crowd. Or for the people that want a fun movie. This movie is not for anyone who wants to think at all.
Contact Madeline Ward at
Madeline.Ward@UConn.edu.
The basic plot takes place two years after the events of the first movie. Our heroes are at a media-frenzied wedding, which is rudely interrupted by intense weather, which turns out to be the arrival of the first alien from outer space, who steals both the human torch and the villain Dr. Doom's powers. The rest of the film is a slow-paced race against time to capture the alien surfer and restore the stolen powers.
What isn't done in this movie is what is disappointing. There is a lot of squandered potential in this movie. It doesn't focus on the unconventional family relationships or the effects of what having super heroes in the real world might be. No, this film is about four people trying to separate an alien from his surfboard. Not all of us have read the comic book. Some of us did do research to see if it was true to the character. To be blunt, it is not true to the character. It's not hard to be true to a character that is a giant, silver, conveniently human-shaped alien that rides a giant surfboard for the only reason being that kids in 1964 thought it would be cool.
The movie should probably be known as the sequel where the cute young hotshot gets serious and saves the day … with a little help. The actor (Chris Evans) does actually give a good performance, considering much of the plot hinges on him. He plays this like a Nickelodeon cartoon character that learns a valuable lesson all while having a few laughs along the way.
His names is Johnny Storm; he's what all the little kids watching will identify with. They will also want to watch the DVD extra about the Fantasticar. The best part of this is when he trades powers with some of the other members. We get to see him as a giant rock man, an invisible person, a stretchy dude, as well as on fire.
In the movie, the Silver Surfer actually looks like a modern and formidable enemy. In the comics he is a merely very large man in a purple body suit and a really stupid hat.
Jessica Alba gives a limp performance as a blonde, blue-eyed serious scientist that doesn't do anything very science-y. However, her counterparts try a bit harder to give a good show. Ioan Guffard is Reed Richards, a man that can stretch and apparently construct a laser and flying car out of scraps. Michael Chiklis does wonders with the limited material he is given - performance only enhanced by the "Power Cosmic" DVD edition.
All and all this is an experience meant for the younger kids in the crowd. Or for the people that want a fun movie. This movie is not for anyone who wants to think at all.
Contact Madeline Ward at
Madeline.Ward@UConn.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
keith horn
posted 10/12/07 @ 1:09 AM EST
you are sadly mistaken. have you ever read a comic book on the subject you are writing about? galactus is in a purple suit not the silver surfer... come on Madeline. (Continued…)
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